Established users changing to "new users"

Woodnwine

Hello,

I have XP Pro, SP 2 with all updates. I use Avast, Spybot, and Adaware. I
have one pc with 4 users set up with different logins. It has been this way
for at least 2 years.

Lately, two users profiles have defaulted to "new users". In other words,
all setting have vanished and when logging in to one of those two users, it
appears as if you are setting up a user for the first time. I go into
Explorer and can see the original user, with all files in tact, but the user
isn't pointing to the settings.

I have created new users and copied all of the old settings to the new users
and this will "fix" the problem. But recently, this happened a second time.
I can't figure it out.

I have run the above stated programs, but really don't find anything.

Can anyone give a helping hand?

Thank you,

Alex